Training in AdvoCard

Maintaining training as a high priority in advocacy has been central to AdvoCard’s development. We aim to keep all our advocacy workers informed and skilled at delivering high quality advocacy to our service users. Training is also viewed as a major bonus to volunteers who seek to update and extend the knowledge and skills they bring to the project. Personal development is core

The training workers provide training to all AdvoCard staff, volunteers and Board members on a range
of topics necessary to provide a good quality service.

Stage 1 Training is our initial training for our new volunteers who want to deliver advocacy through the project. It is a 10 session training programme designed to develop the knowledge and skills that are necessary to carry out mental health advocacy… find out more

AdvoCard Follow On Training is aimed at active advocacy workers who want to update and increase their knowledge and skills for advocacy. We organise events and training in relation to the Mental Health (Care & Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, as well as sessions such as ‘Refresher Training’, and ‘Letter writing for advocacy” for more experienced workers.

External Training - we have a limited budget for external training opportunities and can support the attendance of some Volunteer Advocacy Workers at seminars, conferences and training sessions run by other organisations and providers. There is also alot of free training on issues to do with mental health, wellbeing and related issues which volunteers regularly tap into.

Trainers Group – in keeping with original intentions of AdvoCard we have increased the number of Volunteer Advocacy Workers who deliver training to new volunteers.
With their own advocacy experiences under their belts, Volunteer Advocacy Workers co-facilitate the Stage 1 training, and are able to share their first hand knowledge and with people who are wondering just what it’s like to do advocacy.The volunteers with an interest in being facilitators have joined with the Training Workers to have a monthly meeting dedicated to developing training in AdvoCard.
Topics have included how to improve delivery of the Stage 1 training; the use of training techniques such as role-play; effective means of training for the new Mental Health Act and how to improve ourselves as individual trainers. It’s been an excellent opportunity to bring a broader view of training to AdvoCard.